Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Also known as: Red cherry shrimp, RCS, Neocaridina

Quick Facts

• Adult size: 3 cm (1.25 inches)
• Minimum tank size: 19 litres (5 gallons)
• Lifespan: 1–2 years
• Temperament: peaceful
• Swimming level: bottom-and-middle
• Diet: omnivore
• Minimum group size: 10
• Difficulty: beginner

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 18–26°C
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Hardness: 125–250 ppm

Care Summary

A small, peaceful freshwater dwarf shrimp and one of the easiest invertebrates to keep. Comes in a wide range of selectively bred colour grades from pale pink ('cherry') to deep red ('painted fire red'). Adults regularly moult to grow — the discarded shell looks like a dead shrimp on the substrate and is normal, do not remove. Reproduces readily without intervention in stable, planted tanks; a starting colony of 10 will typically grow to dozens within a few months. Highly sensitive to copper (avoid copper-based medications and old brass plumbing fittings) and to ammonia/nitrite spikes — never add them to an uncycled tank.

Tankmates

Adult cherry shrimp are too small to defend themselves against most fish — even species marketed as 'shrimp safe' will pick off baby shrimp and weakened adults. For a thriving breeding colony, keep them in a shrimp-only tank or with very small, peaceful species like otocinclus and ember tetras. Bettas vary individually — some ignore shrimp entirely, others hunt them relentlessly. Dense planting with mosses (Java moss, Christmas moss) provides essential cover for babies and moulting adults.

Compatible with

• Bronze Corydoras
• Neon Tetra
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Otocinclus
• Mystery Snail
• Ember Tetra

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Angelfish Adult
• Guppy Fry Predators
• Large Cichlids
• Loaches
• Gourami

Common Problems

• copper poisoning from medications or plumbing
• moulting failure from inadequate calcium or iodine
• predation by tankmates
• colony collapse from ammonia spikes
• loss of colour intensity through hybridisation if mixed with wild-type Neocaridina

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-02